Quincy police keep quiet about housing official who was fired

Quincy police remained tight-lipped when asked Tuesday about the former finance director at the Quincy Housing Authority, whose computer was seized last week by detectives.

"It’s under investigation,” said Quincy police Capt. John Dougan, who declined to offer any more details.

Quincy Housing Authority announced Monday evening that it had fired the agency’s finance director, Bryant Carter, for issues unrelated to the finances of the public housing agency.

James Lydon, the executive director of the housing authority, said that a company that monitors the agency’s computers called him last week with concerns about Carter’s computer.

“They voiced to me some suspicions they had,” said Lydon, who would not offer details about the allegations other than adding, “It in no way relates to the finances of Quincy Housing Authority.”

The company had also alerted a state and federal agency of its findings, Lydon said.

Carter had worked for the housing authority for the last seven years and earned an annual salary of about $72,000, said Lydon.

When Lydon learned of concerns about Carter’s computer, Lydon said he immediately placed Carter on paid administrative leave and demanded that he surrender all his keys and passes to housing authority offices. Lydon also contacted Mayor Thomas Koch, who then called Quincy police.

Last Thursday, Quincy detectives arrived at the housing authority’s office and took Carter’s computer.

“By Friday, we had enough to terminate (Carter’s position) with cause,” said Lydon.

The Patriot Ledger was unable to reach Carter for a response.

The dismissal of Carter comes as the Quincy Housing Authority faces increasing scrutiny by the State Department of Housing and Community Development for its poor maintenance of apartments and failure to correct health and safety violations.

Reach Chris Burrell at cburrell@ledger.com or follow on Twitter @Burrell_Ledger.